Bendigo To Host Victorian Qualifying

Australian Open (Victorian) Qualifying Events in Bendigo, 9-13 February 2009.

The RVBA and VLBA are pleased to announce that the Victorian Qualifying Rounds of the Australian Open will be conducted in Bendigo between 9-13 February 2009.  Clubs in the RVBA Bendigo District Bowls Association (BDBA) & VLBA Bendigo District Ladies’ Bowling Association (BDLBA) will host the event with support from both State Associations.

The BDBA/BDLBA had expressed disappointment at not securing the "main event" when allocated by Bowls Australia to Shepparton Park and Mooroopna Bowls Clubs and have worked methodically with local government, local accommodation and tourism representatives, local transport providers and member clubs to secure the Victorian Qualifying Event.

The facts speak for themselves when planning such an event:

Bendigo is easily accessible from Melbourne, but also may attract greater regional/rural entries than previously when Melbourne has hosted the event;

The close proximity of Clubs - Bendigo has 12 Clubs with 26 outstanding grass greens and associated facilities (176-180 rinks);

• Country Week, hosted by BDBA, traditionally caters for around 700 bowlers and demonstrates their capacity to conduct such a major event;
• Media (print, radio and TV) will be very supportive of this major event in Bendigo/Regional Victoria;
• Provision of up to 200 markers and officials is assured, with further training sessions being conducted in October/November;
• The City Of Greater Bendigo is very supportve of the staging of the event, especially (but not exclusively) through their Marketing & Major Events arm;
• Local accommodation and local providers will work with Council to support entrants into the event (with such things as tourism & accommodation packs);
• There are no other major events in Bendigo at this time, thereby assuring that hundreds of motel beds are available;
• Transport to and from Tullamarine for interstate entrants is already provided via bus shuttle, but extra services are being assessed;
• Train services to Bendigo are excellent;
• The Calder Freeway upgrade is expected to be completed prior to the staging of the event, thus making road travel excellent;
• Bendigo City will seek to make this event a major success.

One of the key success factors identified in recent AO Qualifying events is the need to provide excellent greens on which to play. Metropolitan Melbourne, particularly in recent times of drought/water restrictions, has struggled to provide such quality within close proximity to each other. The RVBA has been advised of 19 greens in Metropolitan Melbourne which will be out of commission during February due to replacement or renovation at that time.